Tire-casing spreader



|. A. WEAVER AND R. G. STOEHR. TIRE cAsmG SPREADEA.

APPLICATION FILE-D OCT- I319l9. 1,358,805.

Patented N ov. 16, 1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

l. A. WEAVER AND R. G. STOEHR. TIRE CASING SPREADER. APPLICATION FILEDocT. I3, I9I9.

Patented Nov. 16, 1920.

3 Sl'IEETS--SHEETv 2.

|. A. WEAVER AND n. G. soEHR.

TIRE CASING SPREADEH. APPLICATION FILED ocT.13, 1919.

1,358,805. Patented Nov. 16, 1920.

. a SHEETS-SHEET a.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IRA A. WEAVER AND RoLLA G. s'roEHR, oF SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS, AssIGNoRsTo THE WEAVER MANUFACTURING COMPANY, or SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS, A coRro-RATION 0F ILLINOIS.

Application led.' October 13, 1919.

` To all whom t muy conce/m:

inner surfaces for the discovery of defects,

injured parts, or the presence of foreign bodies, such as tacks, piecesof glass, etc. In addition the device comprises a form-block over whichthe casing or shoe maybe opened or turned more or less inside outexposing its inner surface and making it available for buiing or otheroperations, such block being capable of attachment to the tire-shoe andof removal from the machine therewith.

In order that those skilled in this art may',

have a full and complete understanding of the structural and functionaladvantages ot an appliance embodying this invention and in order thattheattainmeHt of these and other desiiable objects may be indicated, inthe accompanying drawings we have illustrated a preferred embodiment ofthe invention and throughout the various views of these drawings likereference characters referto the same parts.

In these drawings:

Figure 1 is an end view of the apparatus, with parts broken away,showing a portion of a tire-casing held in spread lcondition over theform-block by means of 'retainers or holding appliances associated withsuch block;

Fig. 2 is a pla'view of the machine with the form-block removed;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary Vvertical section on line 3--3 of Fig. 2illustrating the spreader hooks in tire engaging position and the curvedform-block in place, the figure4 also showing the manner in which theappliance spreads or opens up a tire-casing over the form-block, theview in dotted lines indicating the manner in which an unspreadTIRE-CASING SPREADER.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented N ov. 16, 1920. Serial Nl'o. 330,451.

casing is supported on anti-friction rollers for turning to bring a newportion of the shoe Into position for spreadlng;

p F Ig. 4 is a fragmentary plan view illustrating the action of thespreader-arms and their hooks;

F ig. 5 isa longitudinal section on line 5- 5 of Fig. 4 showing aportion of the tirecaslng opened up over the form-block and theretainers pushed in to fit over the edges of the casing; and y Fig. 6illustrates the form-block removed from the machine while still fastenedto a section of the tire-casing. A

Referring to these drawings it will be perceived that a longitudinallyand transversely curved or rounded top plate 20 is supported on theupper ends, of four inclined support- Ing legs angle-shape incross-section and connected together at the rear of the applianceby anangle-bar 25 and at two sides by straps 26, 26, of which only one isillustrated in the drawin s. l

At the, front of the machine the legs 21 and 24 are connected togetherby crossed diagonal bars 27, 27 which at their intersec-4 tion supportadepending stationary ratchet or toothed bar 29 employed `for a purposehereinafter' indicated.

At its two ends the curved plate 2O has two pairs of outstanding,fiat-top rojections or lugs 30, 30, shown-most cleariy in Figs. 2 and 5.Such bent` or rounded plate 20 has a central aperture 31 therethrough ofthe peculiar shape and form indicated in Fig. 2, which provides fourarts 32 for the ready accommodation of a ike number of anti-frictionwheels or rollers hereinafter described.

By means of two vertical bolts 33, 33, extended downwardly through holesin the lower walls of two side depressions 34, 34, formed midway of thelength and at opposite sides of the plate 20, a'downwardlybowed yoke isfixedly secured in position. Such supporting yoke or saddle is equippedwith a central. npstanding, apertured boss 3G slidingly accommodating avert-ical rod end of a coil-spring 38 connected at its lower end to afoot lever of pedal 39 fulcrumed centrally of the appliance on a bracket40 mounted midway on the connecting bar 25 ot the frame, the front endof such lever Aor pedal having a forwardlyextended foot-piece 4lequipped with a loop portion 42, shown inv dotted lines in Fig. l,encircling the notched bar 39 to limit the extent of lateral movement ofthe footpiece from the toothed edge of the notched bar, an edge of thefoot-piece 40 by sidewi'se shifting of such element being adapted toengage any one of the notches of the bar 29 and hold the pediil or leverdepressed with the spring 88 in extended condition. At its top end thisrod 37 has acarrier 43 ixedly mounted thereon, such element having twocross-shafts 44, 44, at its opposite ends carrying four anti-frictionrollers or wheels 45 free to revolve thereon, such rollers occupying thespaces 32 of the main aperture 3l. Interposed between the top face ofthe saddle 35, surrounding the boss 3G, and bearing at its upper endagainst the member 43, a coil compression-spring 46 is employed tonormally maintain the member 43 in such position that its rollers willbe in the elevated position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3.

he apparatus includes in addition the longitudinally and transverselycurved form-block 47 shaped on its under face to conform substantiallyto the `form and curvature of the top face of the element 20. lVhen onthe machine, this form-block 4T has recesses or sockets at the ends oftransverse ribs 48 which receive the upper porend of the block being instaggered relation so as not to conict with one another, as is clearlyshown in Fig. 4. Each of the clamps or slide-bars at its outer end hasan inturned hook-portion 52 adapted to engage over the edge of thespread tire-casing and hold it firmly and securely to the form-block.

T o spread or open up the tire-casing over the form-block the 'followinginstrumentalitics are employed:

At 60. G0. two substantially right-angle arms or elbow-levers 6l and G2are fulcrumed on depending flanges on the yoke or saddle element 35,each of such arms or levers being connected by a link 63 or 64, as thecase may be, to the central portion of the foot-lever or pedal 39. Atits outer or upper end each of the arms 6l and 62 has hinged thereto at65 a supplemental arm 66 having a flaring or biturcated portion 67, each4end of which terminates in a hooker catch 68 adapted to engage over thecorresponding portion ot' the tire-casing near its bead or margin. lnorder to yieldingly hold each of such arms 66 to its work, it isconnected by a coil contractile spring 69 and an associated bent link 70to the elbou7 portion of the corresponding bent lever 6l oi 62. rhedegree or extent of outward swinging of each element 66 with relation toits supporting arm to which it is fulcrumed when in idle or inactiveposition is limited or restricted by `a laterally-extended lug or ear 7ldesigned to engage the outer face of arm 6l or 62, in which position ofthe parts the bent link 70 extends around and beyond the center of' thefulcrum pin 65.

The operation of the appliance occurs substantially as follows: A

Conceding that the tire-casing spreaderarms 66, 66, are thrown back intothe inoperative position indicated in F ig. 1 in which position-they areyieldingly maintained by reason of the actioniof' their springs 69andbent or curved links 70. that the foot-lever or pedal 39 is in normalelevated position, and that in addition the form-block is in place onthe appliance with the anti-friction rollers prpjecting upwardly throughits apertures, th pneumatic tireeasing or shoe to be examined is put inplace in upright-position on the elevated four rollers as shown in Fig.3, whereupon the arms 6G are swung inwardly, to hook over the beadportions of the casing. These arms are vslightly oi'set 'so that thehooks or catches 68 will not vinterfere with one another. Thereupon theoperator with his foot depresses the lever or pedal 39 which rocks thearms 6l and 62-downwardly and outwardly causing a similar movement otlthe spreader hooks and the effective opening up of the casing over theform-block, as shown in Fig. 4. During the descent of level' 39 thespring 3S vieldingly pulls the rod 37 and the anti-friction rollers 45downwardly against thev normal lifting action of spring 46 so that inthe spread or opened condition of the casing over the form-block therollers will be completely or almost completely depressed to the outeror upper surface of the form-block. and in this way automatically recedeout of the way for the performance of the spreading operation.

Assuming that the injury to the tire-casing is not exposed by suchspreading action. the operator releases the pedal B9 from thenotched-bar 29 and the spring 38 immediately swings it upwardly, thuspermitting the spreaders to swing inwardly and upwardly and at the sametime permitting the rollers 45 to rise so that as soon as the hooks 68are released from the casing the latter may be turned around somewhatwhile resting on these projecting or elevated rollers. to bring a newportion of the same into posi tion for action of'the spreading meansthereon. Thereupon the hooks 68 are again applied to the casing and thelever 39 again depressed, thus opening up the new portion of the casingfor inspection. Assuming that this part of the casing is injured andrequires bufling and repairing, while the spreader still holds thecasing in open relation, the catches 50, 50, of the form-block arepushed or slid inwardly so that their hook portions 52 engage over themarginal or bead parts of the casing. Thereupon the spreaders 66, 66,are released by the elevation of the pedal 39 and swung outwardly byhand into inoperative position, the casing being held or retained inexpanded or opened condition by reason of the action of the catches orhooks 52. Then this casing with the form-block thus attached thereto, asshown in Fig. 6, may be wholly removed or detached from the applianceand the inner surface of the casing bufi'ed or otherwise treated as maybe necessary. This operation having been completed, the form-block withthe casing still attached thereto, is replaced on the machinethespreaders brought into position and swung downwardly and outwardlybydepressing the pedal, and then the catchesl 50 are slid outwardly,Whereupon the spreaders may be released from the casing, being firstpermitted to rise by the release of the pedal` It is to be understoodthat the rollers or wheels 45 not only perform the function ofanti-friction means on which the tire-casing rests, but by reason oftheir lateral spaced relation they also act to center the tirecasingwith respect to the spreader-arms.

While one embodiment only of the invention has been illustrated anddescribed in detail, it will be understood by those skilled in the artthat it is susceptible of a variety of embodiments differing more atire-casing partially inside out over such block,eantifriction meansmounted to normally project above the face of said formblock tovfacilitate turning of a tirecasing thereon to bring new sections thereofinto the field of action of the spreading means and to recede to permitthe part of the casing operated upon to conform substantially to thesurface of the `form-block, substantially as described.

2. In a tire-casing spreader of the character described, the combinationof a formblock, a support therefor, means to spread a tire-casingpartially inside out over such blockjand four longitudinally andtransversely spaced anti-,friction rollers mounted to normally projectabove the face of said form-block to support and facilitate the4 turningof a tire-casing thereon to bring new sections thereof into the field ofaction of said spreading means and to recede to permit the part of thecasing operated upon to conform substantially to the surface of theform-block, substantially as described.

3. In a tire-casing spreader of the character described, the.combination of a formblock, means to support the same, means to spreada tire-casing partially inside out over such block, and yieldinglysupported anti friction means mounted to normally project above the faceof the form-block to facilitate the turning of a tire-casing thereon tobring new sections thereof into the field of action of the spreadingmeans and to recede to permit the part of the casing operated upon toconform substantially to the surface of the form-block, substantially asdescribed.

4. In a tire-casing spreader of the characterdescribed, the combinationof a support, a form-block thereon, spreader means adapted to turn atire-casing partially inside out over said block, operating means forsaid spreader means, anti-friction roller means mounted -to normallyproject above the face of said form-block to facilitate the turning ofthe tire-casing thereon to bring new sections thereof into the field ofaction of said spreader means, and means actuated by said operatingmeans to depress said anti-friction roller means to permit the part ofthe casing operated upon to conform substantially to the surface of theform-block, substantially as described.

5. In a tire-casing spreader of the character described, the combinationof a support, a form-block thereon, hook-shaped spreader means adaptedto engage over opposite edges of a tire-casing and turn it partiallyinside out over said block, operating means for said spreader hooks, ananti-friction roller mounted to normally project `above the face of saidform-block to facilitate the turning of a tire-casing thereon to bringnew sections thereof into the field of action of said spreader hooks,and means actuated by said operating means to depress the roller topermit the part of the casing opdescribed.

j 6. In a tire-casing spreader of the character described,-Ythe'combination of a support, a form-block thereon, spreader meansadapted to turn a tire-casing partially inside out over said form-block,operating means for said spreader means, anti-friction roller meansmounted to normally project above the face of the form-block tofacilitate the turning of a tire-casing thereon to bring new sectionsthereof into the field of action of said spreader means, and a yieldingconnection between said anti-friction roller means and said operatingmeans andi actuated by the latter to depress such antifriction means topermit the part of the casing operated upon to conform substantially tothe surface of the form-block.; substantially as described.

7 In a tire-casing spreader of the character described, the combinationof a support, a form-block thereon, hook-shaped spreader means adaptedto engagefover oppbsite edges of a tire-casing and turn it partiallyinside out over said form-block, operating means for said spreaderhooks, an antifriction rollerl mounted to normally project above theface of said formeblock to facilitate the turning of a tire-casingthereon to bring new sections thereof into the field of action yof saidspreader hooks, anda yielding connection between said antifrictionroller and said operating means and actuated by the latter to depressthe roller to permit the part of the casing operated upon to conformsubstantially to the surface of the form-block, substantially asdescribed.

8. In a tire-casing spreader of the character described, the combinationof a support, a form-block thereon, spreade'rmeans to tajlrn atire-casing partially inside out over said block, operating means fitrsaid spreader means, an anti-friction relier, a spring normallyprojecting said rollerabove the face of the form-block to facilitate theturning of a tire-casing thereon to'bring new sections thereof into thefield of action ofsaid spreader means, and a spring connection betweensaid roller and operating means adapted during the actuation of saidoperating means tol overcome the action of said first spring and depressthe roller to permit the part of the tire-casing operated upon toconform substantially to the surface of the form-block, substantially asdescribed.

9.,.In a tire-casing spreader of the character described, thecombination of a support, a form-block thereon, hook-shaped spreadermeans adapted to engage over opposite edges of a tire-casing and turn itpartiallyinside out over said block, operating means for said s readerhooks, a, carriage, a plurality o' spaced anti-friction rollers mountedon said carriage, a spring normally pressing said carriage upwardly toproject the rollers above the face of the form-block to support andfacilitate the turning of a tire-casing thereon to bring new sectionsthereof into the field of action of the spreader hooks, and a springconnecting said carriage and operating means adapted during theactuation of the latter to overcome the action of said first spring anddepress the carriage and rollers to permit the part of the tire-casingoperated upon to conform substantially to the surface of the form-block,substantially as described.

10. In a tire-casing spreader of the character described, thecombination of a support, an apertured form-block removably supportedthereon, spreader means adapted to engage over opposite edges of atirecasing and turn' it partially inside out over said block, operatingmea t, for said spreading means, an anti-frlction roller mounted tonormally project through the aperture of and above the face of said formblock to facilitate the turning of a tire-casing thereonto bring newsections thereof into the field of action of said spreadermeans, andmeans actuated by said operating means to depress the roller to permitthe part of the casing operated upon to conform substantially to thesurface of the form block, substantially as described.

1l. In a tire-casing spreader of the character described, thecombination of a support, an apertured form-block removably supportedthereon, a spreader means adapted to engage overopposite edges of atire-casing and turn it partially inside out over said block, operatingmeans for said spreader means, a plurality of yieldingly mountedanti-friction rollers normally projecting through the apertures of andabove the face of said form-block to facilitate the turning of atire-casing thereon to bring new sections thereof into the field ofaction of said spreader means, and means actuated by said operatingmeans to depress the rollers to permit the part of the casing operatedupon to conform substantially to the surface of the form-block,substantially as described.

12. In a tire-casing spreader of the character described, thecombination of a support, an apertured form block removably mountedthereon, hook-shaped spreader means adapted 'to engage over oppositeedges of a tire-casing and turn it partially inside out over saidform-block, operating i means for said spreader means, a plurality oflongitudinally and transversely spaced anti-friction rollers, a springnormally yieldingly holding said rollers in elevated position projectingupwardly through the apertures of said form-block and adapted tofacilitate the turning of a tire-casing spreader thereon to 4bring newsections there of into the field of action of said spreader means, and ayielding connection between said anti-friction rollers and saidoperating-means adapted during the actuation of the latter to oyercomethe action of said first spring and depress the rollers to permit thepart of the tire-casing operated upon to conform substantially to thesurface of the 10 form-block, substantially as described.

IRA A. WEAVER. ROLLA G. sToEHR.

